Friday May 9 8.00pm
Festival Marquee Writers Square
Desmond Dekker, the king of Ska, is true to the legendary introduction “All The Way From Trench Town, Jamaica”.

Born Desmond Dacres in 1942,Dekker recorded his first single “Honour Your Father And Mother” in 1963.
In the mid 60s Desmond and his band The Aces recorded no less than 20 No. 1 hits in Jamaica. Among these hits is the classic Rude Boy Anthem “007 (Shanty Town)”

In 1969 came the immortal lines “Get Up In The Morning, Slaving For Breakfast, So That Every Mouth Can Be Fed” came into Desmond’s mind and the worldwide No. 1 “ISRAELITES” was written.

A massive No. 1 in both the UK and the USA, two more hits quickly followed “Itmek” and “Problems”, both of which are still firm favourites with the crowds at shows today.

Up until the early 1970s Desmond Dekker was the most famous reggae artiste in the world; his place only being taken by the legend that is Bob Marley.

The hits kept coming for Desmond not least with the Jimmy Cliff classic, “You Can Get It If You Really Want”, taken from the film “The Harder They Come”.

A mesmeric, energy driven performer whose shows are legendary, a sweat soaked marquee is the perfect setting for the Godfather of modern ska.

Tickets £10/£8 available from the Festival Office on 028 9023 2403